People of Odisha want Change: Baijayant Panda

ONI Bureau: Thousands of people turned up to welcome former MP Baijayant Panda yesterday as he travelled across Angul district yesterday. Mr. Panda got overwhelming response ahead of the new political beginning he is going to make within a few weeks if we believe the sources.

It was Baijayant Panda’s 7th visit to Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency in the last 3-4 months, which fuelled speculations about his future political plans. Many political pundits believe that he may choose to contest from Dhenkanal this time instead of Kendrapara.

Jay Panda took a helicopter ride nearly after two months to reach Hindol where he met several people over Tea. He later proceeded to Banarpal where a small Heijau event was held, as his team tweeted. He was then taken to Nalco Nagar in Kulada in a huge bike procession. Around 8,000-10,000 tribal workers from Nalco welcomed Baijayant Panda and listed his grievances before him. He was so overwhelmed with the response that he moved out of his car and stood with the crowd.

Mr. Panda later proceeded to Bantala Chhak in Angul district where he held a ‘Heijau’ tea gathering with around 1,500-2,000 people. While speaking to mediapersons, Baijayant Panda termed the response to him ‘unprecedented’ and said the people have now made up their mind for a change. “People in Odisha want change as they are now fed up with hooliganism, violence & corruption”, he added.

“Just not a #Heijau event. It marks the beginning of a change, a revolution, as people turn up in large numbers, giving a thumbs up to Baijayant Panda,” his office tweeted. Hashtags like #ChangeInOdisha and #Parivartan are doing the rounds after yesterday’s event. It would be interesting to see when Jay Panda announces his next political decision.